A LOUGHBOROUGH cancer survivor is fighting dirty to conquer the disease and wants Leicestershire women to join her.

Alison Reeves, aged 51, is launching Cancer Research UK’s new Race for Life Pretty Muddy event, which takes place for the first time in the county, at Prestwold Hall, on Sunday, May 17.

The mum-of-two is encouraging local ladies to join her in the challenge by signing up as soon as possible at www.raceforlife.org

Pretty Muddy is a women-only, non-competitive 5k obstacle course – with added mud. It’s the perfect challenge for those looking to get off the sofa and be more active in 2015.

Cancer Research UK’s Race for Life family of events also includes the familiar 5k and 10k courses, which thousands of Leicestershire women will take on in Loughborough town centre on Sunday, July 19, and at Leicester’s Victoria Park on Sunday, July 5 to raise money for life-saving research.

Alison was found to have breast cancer in January 2014 following her first routine breast screening. The shock news came only three years after her husband, Phil Reeves, was diagnosed with prostate cancer at the age of only 52.

Alison, who is mum to Michael (19) and Anna (15), said: “We were both quite young to have cancer so it was particularly hard on the kids. Anna had to cope with school while seeing her mum go through cancer treatment, and Michael had just gone to University when I was diagnosed.

“I went for my first breast screening never expecting it to be bad news. The lump was so small and deep it could only be seen on the mammogram, so I’m very lucky it was found.”

After a lumpectomy at Nottingham Breast Clinic, Alison was treated with radiotherapy. Luckily, the tumour had been caught early and had not spread to her lymph glands.

Alison continued to work as normally as possible as head of higher education at Confetti Institute of Creative Technologies throughout her treatment. She will be treated with the drug Tamoxifen for five years to reduce the risk of the cancer returning.

She said: “I had such fantastic treatment and I’m really grateful for everything that was done for me. It was strange to be having my lumpectomy in the same hospital where Phil had had his prostectomy.”

Phil, a retired IBM sales manager, was also treated with radiotherapy following his operation and is currently clear of cancer.

Alison took part in Race for Life last year, not long after her treatment finished. She added: “I’m looking forward to kicking some dirt in cancer’s face by taking part in Pretty Muddy this year.

“It’s thanks to research that both I and Phil are now cancer free. I’m determined to help others by raising money so Cancer Research UK can help even more people survive. That’s why I’m urging the brave ladies of Leicestershire to join a Race for Life event and help beat to help beat all 200 different types of cancer.

Jane Redman, Cancer Research UK’s Leicestershire spokesperson, said: “We’re so excited about staging Race for Life Pretty Muddy in Leicestershire and we’re calling on local ladies to sign up now.

“Pretty Muddy promises all the fun and camaraderie of our much loved 5k and 10k events – just with an extra serving of mud and obstacles. Race for Life events are not competitive. Women can complete the Pretty Muddy course at their own pace and in their own way.”

Cancer Research UK’s Race for Life, in partnership with Tesco, is an inspiring women-only series of 5k, 10k and Pretty Muddy events which raises millions of pounds every year to help beat 200 different types of cancer.

This year, organisers need 8,200 women and girls to take part in Race for Life in Leicestershire to help raise £553,000 for vital research.

Cancer survival rates have doubled since the 1970s and Cancer Research UK’s work has been at the heart of that progress. But more funds and more supporters are needed to bring forward the day when all cancers are cured.